The research on the effects of marijuana while breastfeeding is limited, but it is known that traces of THC — the chemical in marijuana that causes you to feel high — can be found in urine of babies whose mothers use marijuana. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently advise breastfeeding moms NOT to use marijuana.
Also, they warn that “pumping and dumping” — a common practice when a woman imbibes in alcohol then throws out her breastmilk for the next 12 to 24 hours — does not work with marijuana because the THC is stored in fat and stays in the system for a much longer time.
To learn more, download this fact sheet from the
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.